Stipa — 8 species

Stipa is a genus of graceful ornamental grasses — feather grass, silver spike grass, and beautiful feather grass among them — prized for their billowing, silver-tinged plumes that catch the lightest breeze. They demand full sun (six or more hours daily) and extremely well-drained, lean soil; overwatering or heavy, fertile ground causes root rot and floppy growth. Once established, most Stipa species are highly drought-tolerant and need only occasional deep watering through summer. Toxicity varies across the genus, so check the specific species before buying if you have cats or dogs at home.